DANBURY, CT – The Western Connecticut State University women's soccer team exploded for three unanswered goals midway through the second half on the way to a 3-1 victory over #13 ranked Stevens Tech Tuesday evening at the Westside Athletic Complex. 

With ten minutes played in the first half, both teams had taken three shots and earned two corner kicks, but the score remained 0-0.  With 30 minutes played, the shots remained even at eight apiece, but Stevens Tech held a slight edge in corners, 4-2. 

In the closing seconds of the half, junior Raba Nassif (Northvale, NJ) broke open on the left side of the Western box for an uncontested shot, but Western's keeper, sophomore Jillian Fernandez (Columbia, CT), made a diving save to maintain the 0-0 tie. 

At the 60:48 mark of the second half, Western got on the scoreboard when sophomore Andrea DeVoe (Farmington, CT) broke through the right side of the Stevens Tech defense with the ball and rocketed a shot that caromed off the keeper, landing in front of junior Emily Newhard (Wallingford, CT).  Newhard calmly redirected the ball into the open portion of the cage to give the Colonials a 1-0 lead. 

Five minutes later, Western gained a little breathing room when the Colonials successfully executed a corner kick to take a 2-0 lead.  Junior Celia DeVoe (Farmington, CT) took the corner from the left side and arced a pass in front of the Stevens Tech goal within a few feet of the goal-line.  Senior Kelsey Chacho (Plainville, CT) battled for position with two Stevens Tech defenders and delivered the ball to the back of the net for the Colonials' second goal of the game. 

Celia DeVoe then capped the scoring for Western three minutes later after a Stevens Tech foul.  The ball was placed in the center of the field, 30 yards out from the goal.  DeVoe's shot sailed over the collection of players in front of the goal and grazed the bottom of the crossbar near the left corner, before settling in the back of the cage for a 3-0 Western lead. 

With just under three minutes remaining, Stevens Tech finally broke through the Western defense when Nassif scored on a pass from senior Kristen Goncalves (Dix Hill, NJ) to make Western's final margin of victory 3-1. 

For the game, Stevens Tech held a 27-14 advantage in shots, and also had a 7-3 edge in corner kicks.  Fernandez finished with 13 saves to pick up the win for Western, while sophomore Lindsey Mahnken (Bayville, NJ) made seven saves for Stevens Tech, but suffers the loss. 

With the win, Western improves to 13-5-1 on the season, while Stevens Tech falls to 13-3-1.  The Colonials return to action on Saturday, October 31, when they host Little East Conference rival Keene State at the WAC.  Game time is slated for 4:00pm.  Stevens Tech hosts Hartwick on Saturday.